The ‘biodegradable' product that can be terrible for the environment
These pollutants are common in our waterways because of the mismanagement of sewage and inappropriate disposal that flush hygiene products and microfibres into rivers and oceans. In the UK alone, more than 11 billion wet wipes are thrown away annually. Wet wipe litter was found on 72% of UK beaches in 2023.
They persist because they're made of plastic, a durable material that won't easily degrade. Plastic can last for decades to hundreds of years. Therefore, governments and manufacturers are eagerly encouraging the use of non-plastics as more 'sustainable' alternatives, with the UK banning plastic in wet wipes in 2024.
These textiles can be made from plant or animal fibres such as cotton and wool, or they may be chemically and physically modified, such as rayon or viscose. They are often labelled 'biodegradable' on product packaging, suggesting they are environmentally friendly, break down quickly, and are a safe alternative to plastics. But is this really the case?
My research focuses on investigating the environmental impact of these non-plastic textiles and their persistence in waterways. My colleagues and I have found that some non-plastic microfibres can be just as problematic or even more harmful than plastic.
While non-plastic textiles are not as long-lived as plastics, with many composting within weeks to months, they can last long enough to accumulate and cause damage to plants, animals and humans. Studies by scientists at the University of Stirling show that biodegradable wet wipes can last up to 15 weeks on beaches, where they can act as a reservoir for faecal bacteria and E.coli. Other studies have highlighted non-plastic textiles lasting for two months or more in rivers and oceans, where they break up into hundreds of thousands of microfibres.
These microfibres are so prevalent in waterways that they have contaminated animals across the food chain, from filter-feeding mussels and oysters to top predators such as sharks and the seafood we eat.
They are also found in remote locations as far away as the Arctic seafloor and deep sea, thousands of miles from civilisation. These discoveries highlight that non-plastics last longer than we think.
The dangers of non-plastics
Once exposed to aquatic life, non-plastic microfibres can be easily ingested or inhaled, where they can become trapped in the body and cause damage. During their manufacture, textile fibres can be modified with various chemical additives to improve their function, such as flame retardants, antibacterials, softeners, UV protection and dyes.
It is known that several toxic synthetic chemicals, including the plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA), are used for this purpose. These additives can be carcinogenic, cause neurotoxic effects or damage hormonal and reproductive health.
Researchers like me, have only just begun to explore the dangers of non-plastics. Some have shown that non-plastic microfibres and their additives can damage the digestive system, cause stress, hinder development and alter immune responses in animals such as shrimp, mussels, and oysters. However, other studies have shown little to no effect of non-plastic microfibres on animals exposed to them.
We do not yet know how much of a threat these materials are to the environment. Only the manufacturers know exactly what's in the textiles we use. This makes it hard to understand what threats we are really facing. Nevertheless, assumptions that non-plastics are environmentally friendly and an easy alternative to plastic materials must be challenged and reconsidered.
To do this, we need to push for greater transparency in the contents of our everyday items and test them to make sure that they are truly sustainable and won't harm the world around us. So next time you are browsing the supermarket aisles and come across a pack of 'biodegradable' or 'environmentally friendly' wet wipes, just question, are they really?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Men can't cope under pressure! Married blokes are more likely to CHEAT than women when they're stressed, study finds
Whether it's a new job, a house move or having children, there are plenty of things that can trigger nerves or anxiety. But ladies, beware – as a new study reveals men are more likely than women to have an affair during high–stress life events. Researchers from Indiana University Bloomington surveyed more than 1,000 adults who were in committed heterosexual relationships during the first year of the Covid pandemic. Participants were asked about whether they had engaged in any actions that their partner would consider to be infidelity. Overall, 19 per cent of people said they had engaged in some form of infidelity during the pandemic – either online or in–person. Analysis revealed that men were more likely than women to say their desire to be unfaithful increased during the pandemic. They were also more likely to report having cheated on their significant other. Experts said men may be 'especially vulnerable' to stressful events – and that these individuals may benefit from targeted support. The results, published in the journal Plos One, also showed that parents were more likely to have affairs than couples who did not have children. However in this group, both mothers and fathers were just as likely as each other to cheat. 'Our recent research found that parents, compared to non–parents, reported higher desire for and engagement in infidelity during periods of significant external stress, such as the COVID–19 pandemic,' they said. 'Men also reported greater desire and behaviour than women in general. 'These findings suggest that parents, and men in particular, may be especially susceptible to infidelity–related risk factors during high–stress life events. 'Targeted support for these individuals and their relationships may be especially important when navigating periods of collective or personal strain.' Further analysis revealed that older participants reported a greater inclination towards cheating than younger participants. This could suggest that longer–term relationships or accumulated life stress might impact relationship satisfaction, the team said. Previous research has already suggested that the Covid pandemic strained many romantic and sexual relationships. And other studies suggest that high stress and relationship dissatisfaction may prompt some people to consider engaging in romantic or sexual infidelity. According to the General Social Survey, which has tracked the social behaviours of people in the US for more than 50 years, approximately 10 per cent of married people engage in cheating in any given year. Of these, 12 per cent are men and 7 per cent are women. In the UK, around a third of marriages end in divorce and infidelity is one of the most commonly cited reasons. ARE MEN WITH SHORT AND WIDE FACES MORE LIKELY TO CHEAT? Researchers from Nipissing University in Canada looked at how different facial features affect sexual behaviours. The study involved 314 undergraduate students who were in romantic relationships. Each student completed a questionnaire about their behaviour, sex drive, sexual orientation, the chances they'd consider cheating, and how comfortable they were with the concept of casual sex. The researchers also took a picture of each student to analyse their facial width-to-height ratios (FWHR). The results showed that men and women with a high FWHR – square and wide faces – reported a greater sex drive than others. Men with a larger FWHR were also more easy-going when it comes to casual sex and would consider being unfaithful to their partners. The researchers hope the findings will shed light on the role that facial features play in sexual relationships and mate selection. Their research builds upon previous studies that have shown that certain psychological and behavioural traits are associated with particular facial width-to-height ratios (FWHR). Square-faced men tend to be perceived as more aggressive, more dominant, more unethical, and more attractive as short-term sexual partners than men with thinner and longer faces.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Hobby enjoyed by millions of young people linked to risk of serious mental illness, shocking new study reveals
A new study has revealed that binge gaming is directly linked to anxiety, depression and poor sleep in young people—with it being a particular problem in boys. Hong Kong researchers surveyed 2,592 of children and teens currently in school and found that 31 per cent of the youngsters had a binge gaming problem. The experts defined a binge gamer as someone who games on a console or PC for five or more hours consecutively. Specifically, 30 per cent revealed that they binge game at least once a month, with this being 14.3 per cent more prevalent in boys. In both genders, binge gamers experienced more instances of depression, anxiety, stress, loneliness, poor sleep, and lessened confidence in their educational ability than non-gamers. They also reported higher rates of a troubling gaming addiction medically known as internet gaming disorder (IGD). The authors of the study said: 'Binge gaming may signify an initial phase in the progression of IDG and other severe social, physical and mental health issues.' However, they added other risk factors may lead to the development of the disorder like attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. In the UK, the latest government figures show 91 per cent of children and young people between three and 15 years old play video games. The gaming disorder has even been labeled as a health condition by the World Health Organization (WHO). In June, a study found that teens who spend more than two hours a day scrolling on phones or tablets doubled their risk of developing anxiety and quadrupled their chances of becoming depressed. Prolonged screen time, particularly passively scrolling or 'doomscrolling', led to heightened anxiety, depression, aggression and impulsiveness among adolescents who took part in a nine-month study. Neuroscientists said 45 per cent of the 12 to 17-year-olds they studied, who had no prior mental health conditions, experienced psychiatric symptoms that needed further medical evaluation. The research comes amid a growing mental health crisis in Britain's schools, with NHS data showing more than a fifth of eight to 16-year-olds had a probable mental health problem in 2023, a rise of 7 per cent since 2017. However, other studies have found that video gaming can have benefits—with one claiming it can be a better workout for the mind than physical exercise. Last year, researchers found gamers scored better on memory, attention and reasoning compared to those who did not play video games. Meanwhile moderate-level exercise of 150 minutes per week, in line with NHS guidelines, didn't boost memory and thinking skills, despite improving memory. Another study with 97,000 participants found the often misunderstood hobby, gaming, had a positive impact on their mental health. The Japanese researchers revealed owning a game console and playing games helped participants improve their wellbeing. However, participants who played video games for over three hours a day did not enjoy the same benefits, which suggests the problem may lie in binge gaming. But in one study, researchers found those who played video games for three or more benefits a day performed better in cognitive and memory tests.
Reuters
5 hours ago
- Reuters
Ethiopian fossils reveal new species in human evolutionary lineage
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Researchers have unearthed tooth fossils in Ethiopia dating to about 2.65 million years ago of a previously unknown species in the human evolutionary lineage, one that lived in the same time and place as the earliest-known member of the genus Homo to which our own species belongs. The scientists discovered in the Ledi-Geraru research project area of northeastern Ethiopia's Afar Region 10 teeth - six molars, two incisors, one premolar and one canine - that they concluded belonged to a new Australopithecus species. The teeth came from two individuals. Until now, six species of the genus Australopithecus, an important early human ancestor that displayed a mix of ape-like and human-like traits, were known from fossils at various African sites. The researchers said the newly found teeth bore traits indicating they belonged to a seventh species. A genus is a group of closely related species that share similar characteristics. For example, lions and tigers are from the same genus but represent different species. The scientists also discovered three other teeth dating to 2.59 million years ago that had traits showing they belonged to the oldest-known species of Homo, one that was first revealed by a jawbone unearthed in the same vicinity in 2013. Scientists have not yet assigned names to the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by these 13 teeth because of the incomplete nature of the fossil remains. Our species Homo sapiens is the most recent member of the Homo genus, first appearing roughly 300,000 years ago in Africa before later spreading worldwide. The new dental fossils provide insight into a poorly understood period in human evolution. The close age of the teeth suggests that this newly identified Australopithecus species coexisted in this region with the early Homo species, raising questions about whether they competed for the same resources. The teeth also indicate that there were four hominins - as species in the human evolutionary lineage are known - that inhabited East Africa at the time. Previous fossils showed that another Australopithecus species and a species of Paranthropus, a hominin possessing a specialized skull adapted for heavy chewing, lived in East Africa during this time. An additional Australopithecus species also inhabited southern Africa, bringing the number of hominins then on the continent to five. The presence of these contemporaneous hominins illustrates the complicated nature of the human evolutionary process. "This reinforces the idea that the story of human evolution is not of a single lineage changing slowly through time," said University of Nevada, Las Vegas paleoanthropologist Brian Villmoare, lead author of the research published on Wednesday in the journal Nature, opens new tab. "Rather, the pattern of human evolution is similar to that of other organisms, repeatedly branching into multiple species throughout the fossil record, many of whom lived at the same time," Villmoare added. The researchers are seeking clues about the nature of any interaction between the Australopithecus and Homo species represented by the 13 teeth. "We are currently analyzing teeth to see if we can tell if they ate the same thing," said Arizona State University paleoecologist and project co-director Kaye Reed. If so, they may have fought over resources, Reed said. Crude stone tools dating to about the same time were previously discovered nearby, Reed said, probably made by the Homo species. The researchers determined the age of the teeth using a technique that dated feldspar crystals contained in volcanic ash in the sediments where they were discovered based on radioactive decay of the element argon. The Afar Region, one of Earth's hottest and lowest places, is an arid expanse of badlands. But at the time of these species, rivers flowed across a vegetated landscape into shallow lakes in a landscape populated by a splendid array of animals. These included giraffes, horses, pigs, elephants, hippos and antelopes as well as predators such as saber-toothed cats and hyenas. Homo is generally thought to have descended from a species of Australopithecus, though the exact species and the timing have been a matter of debate. Australopithecus eventually died out. Australopithecus includes the famous fossil Lucy, who was a member of the species Australopithecus afarensis who lived approximately 3.18 million years ago. Lucy's remains were discovered in 1974, also in the Afar Region. The newly discovered teeth had characteristics that showed they did not belong to Lucy's species, the researchers said. "This new Australopithecus species is in no way some 'missing link,' and we actually don't think that it was necessarily ancestral to any known species," Villmoare said. "Species arose and many went extinct," Reed said. "Each find is a piece of the puzzle that puts human evolution into a twiggy tree, rather than a linear graphic."
